Q:
Is it permissible for me, as a Qur'an teacher in a Masjid (mosque), before starting the memorization Halaqah (learning circle) with the students, to offer the Salam (Islamic greeting of peace)
and ask the students to respond to the Salam together? I do that for many purposes that are no secret to you, the most important of which, in my opinion as a Qur’an teacher, is to accustom and teach the students the importance of this sublime Islamic etiquette, which is neglected by many parents. However, some knowledge seekers have told me that this is a Bid‘ah (innovation in religion) which should be abandoned.
A:
Your offering Salam to the students is required and there is nothing wrong with their returning the Salam together, but your obliging them to return the Salam all together is not permissible. It is sufficient if some of them respond on behalf of all, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
“It suffices the group, when they pass by, that one of them initiates the Salam, and it suffices those who are sitting that one of them responds.”
(Related by Imam
Ahmad and others, with a Hasan [good] Sanad [chain of narrators])
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.
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